Periods are a fact of every female's development. Biologically, they represent a time of fertility and life. Despite 50% of the population experiencing a period at some point in their lives, there is still an enormous stigma surrounding periods. We need to ask ourselves why this is, and what we can do to change it?
71% of women have admitted to being too embarrassed to purchase sanitary products, despite these being a basic life necessity and an important part of maintaining personal hygiene. The stigma around the purchase and use of sanitary products perpetuates the sense of shame surrounding menstrual cycles and encourages the next generation of females to feel a sense of shame also.
The sense of embarrassment surrounding periods is one reiterated by mainstream media; periods are very rarely discussed on prime time TV shows and even adverts for period products shy away from the realities of a menstruation, opting for blue dye rather than red when representing the blood shed of a period.
The taboo surrounding periods is an age old one and seemingly one of the few we refuse to address. In a survey conducted by Swansea University, it was found that 23% of teachers are too embarrassed to teach about menstrual cycles.
This lack of education inevitably leads to ignorance which will only ever exacerbate the issue. The embarrassment doesn’t end with sanitary products. Uncomfortable situations such as leaks and cramps can make women feel ashamed. Whilst these situations are always a little awkward, women should not be ashamed of a bodily function that is natural and uncontrollable.
These stigmas can be traced right back to biblical times, where periods were often seen as ‘dirty’. However there are plenty of biblical lessons that we have re-evaluated in society. Why can we not do the same for periods?
Encouraging a lack of education in schools due to shame leads many girls to be afraid when they start their period as they aren’t sure what is happening to their bodies. By refusing to address the taboo of periods, we are doing our young girls a disservice.
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Edited by Olivia Warburton